Expert Discusses Screening Advocacy, AI, and Developments in Breast Cancer

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Rakshanda Rahman, MD, FRCS, FACS, discussed a wide range of surgical therapy strategies and other developments in the breast cancer space, ranging from factors that should be considered for surgical decision-making to the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field.

Rahman, a professor of Breast Surgical Oncology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and the medical director of UMC Cancer Center, spoke about challenges associated with barriers to treatment, stating how some patients, particularly those residing in rural counties, may not have sufficient access to the latest technologically advanced care as those in other communities. She also emphasized the value of giving early breast cancer screenings to patients to match them with appropriate systemic therapies.

“We need to keep increasing the advocacy towards screening for patients,” Rahman said. “There are still a lot of misgivings in people’s minds. They may be scared of radiation or do not have time; there are lots of reasons why people choose to not have a screening. Nothing makes a bigger difference to mortality from breast cancer like screening does. All these advancements are great, but if patients do one thing, they should get screened.”

Rahman also discussed her adoption of a genomic profiling test at her clinic to more accurately predict patients who may benefit from treatment with chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. Additionally, she spoke to the use of advanced screening technologies that allow for the detection of tiny tumors, although this may present some logistical challenges for surgically removing a tumor of that size. She also highlighted her use of MOLLI®, a magnetic device that she said has produced quicker operating times compared with a standard wire-based procedure.

With respect to AI, Rahman said that processing blood tests with an algorithm may help identify genes that could affect a patient’s disease, thereby allowing practices to discern what makes a tumor develop resistance. Additionally, certain AI tools may reduce the number of imaging tests needed for a patient, thus reducing health care costs in the process. However, Rahman cautioned that these AI programs should be used responsibly, as to not replace the “human connection” that underscores the doctor/patient relationship. 

Reference

MOLLI: precision surgery made simpler. MOLLI Surgical Inc. Accessed December 13, 2023. https://shorturl.at/mvCM6